Expert: MaryAnn F. Kohl - 3/11/2005

Question
I am currently a junior at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and in one of my classes I have to do an assignment on teaching grades 5th and 6th how to do an art project. I am lost, for I can not think of anything to have them do.  Can you help? Can you think of an easy project that would cover this age group?
Thank you so much for your consideration.
Farrah Thompson  

Answer
Hi, Farrah. This will be easier than you think!

Go to my website, and many art ideas are free from my books there.
http://www.brightring.com

What I would do is give them a little history on someone famous, like Henri Matisse, and then, do a project in Mattisse's style...say, cutting bold shapes in bright colors. First look on the Internet and see what you can see...then, go for it! The kids will do great. I would do bright construction paper colors on a black or dark blue background.

http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/matisse_henri.html
This is a good place to start...and would be a good place for any of the great masters that you might want to introduce to the kids.

Also, my book, Discovering Great Artists, has all this stuff too.

Best of luck!
MaryAnn
Kohl
maryann@brightring.com